THE FUSS – www.horse-races.net captured one of the bumps in the Star Shoot Stakes last weekend when LUIS CONTRERAS (burgundy silks, he’s looking to his right) came out twice and roughed up MISS INCLINED with Eurico Rosa Da Silva on board. Rough riding or race-riding? After the race, Da Silva is said to have punched Contreras and he is off for 3 days, fined $1,000.

WOODBINE STATS AFTER 5 DAYS…

JOCKEYS

1 Luis Contreras 34 7 6 5 $233,023 21% 18 53%

2 Emma-Jayne Wilson 21 6 5 2 $340,313 29% 13 62%

3 Juan N. Delgado 10 5 2 1 $154,526 50% 8 80%

4 Emile Ramsammy 24 4 2 6 $188,758 17% 12 50%

4 Tyler Pizarro 17 4 1 2 $132,922 24% 7 41%

6 Justin Stein 17 3 2 0 $118,397 18% 5 29%

6 David Clark 17 3 2 5 $117,640 18% 10 59%

6 Omar Moreno 20 3 3 1 $112,826 15% 7 35%

6 Slade Callaghan 11 3 3 0 $80,727 27% 6 55%

6 Gerry Olguin 18 3 0 5 $59,160 17% 8 44%

11 Eurico Rosa Da Silva 32 2 9 2 $192,065 6% 13 41%

11 Richard Dos Ramos 13 2 0 2 $65,032 15% 4 31%

13 Christopher Griffith 4 1 2 0 $49,507 25% 3 75%

13 Ryan Pacheco 12 1 0 1 $44,625 8% 2 17%

13 Jesse M. Campbell 9 1 2 2 $33,999 11% 5 56%

13 Sunny Singh 12 1 0 1 $20,588 8% 2 17%

TRAINERS

1 Wesley A. Ward 12 6 3 1 $195,632 50% 10 83%

2 Reade Baker 6 3 1 0 $99,140 50% 4 67%

3 Barbara J. Minshall 2 2 0 0 $112,127 100% 2 100%

3 Sid C. Attard 7 2 3 2 $109,558 29% 7 100%

3 Darwin D. Banach 7 2 2 1 $93,655 29% 5 71%

3 Michael P. De Paulo 7 2 1 0 $64,514 29% 3 43%

3 Sam Di Pasquale 6 2 1 0 $52,179 33% 3 50%

3 Michael V. Pino 7 2 1 1 $34,715 29% 4 57%

3 John Cardella 5 2 0 1 $24,750 40% 3 60%

3 Stuart C. Simon 4 2 0 1 $22,559 50% 3 75%

3 Michael Lightner 2 2 0 0 $21,402 100% 2 100%

WOODSTOCK/JACQUES CARTIER AT WOODBINE THIS WEEKEND

Jacques Cartier fizzles without 2010 champ

The absence of HOLLYWOOD HIT from the entries for the Jacques Cartier Stakes on Sunday has taken some of the fun out of the 6 furlong dash for older horses and it leaves us with HORSE OF THE YEAR FATAL BULLET meeting last year’s sprint champ nominee ESSENCE HIT MAN meeting 3 rivals.

The tiny field is race 8 on the card. Cold Harbor was a supplement. FATAL BULLET has reportedly looked as good as ever and thr 6yo goes for the red-hot Bear Stables, which just bought a bunch of horses at the Keeneland 2yo sale.

It turns out the WOODSTOCK STAKES tomorrow is a lot more interesting – with champion MADMAN DIARIES in town and with post 6 in the 9 horse field. The speedy gelding figures to be on the pace and anyone who tries to go with him – SOMETHING EXTRA, for

Gail Cox with blinkers on, or recent winner BEAR CHOCOLATED, may be in trouble. A hot horse from the Malcolm Pierce barn will be DIVINE MUSIC, who came to life at Fair Grounds on the dirt, WOODBINE MEDIA OFFICE wrote the following about the colt’s last race in the Black Gold Stakes:

“I don’t know if he would have got there if the finish line was a little further,” said Pierce, of the performance that resulted in a lifetime-best 86 Beyer. “It was a pretty good battle and he was determined right until the end.”

Divine Music will now return to the Toronto oval Polytrack, where he contested his first three races, including a 4 ¾-length maiden-breaking romp at five panels last August.

Pierce is hoping the Kentucky-bred will carry his strong form back to Woodbine.

“He’s improved, for sure,” said Pierce, of the colt that finished sixth, 10 ¾ lengths behind the winner in his career bow on July 18.

“I’m hoping it (his impressive form) isn’t because he’s been racing on the dirt. But he’s been training well on the ‘Poly’ since he came back here. We were trying to find him a race earlier, but couldn’t.”

For Pierce, the most rewarding aspect of Divine Music’s showings in Louisiana was in the two-time winner’s ability to fashion a more relaxed racing style.

“He had always wanted to be speedy and on the lead, but Miguel (jockey Mena) managed to get him to settle,” said Pierce, who will have Patrick Husbands in the irons on Saturday. “It’s been good to see him come from off the pace and be in a stalking position.

“We’ve been thinking about this spot for quite awhile. He had success at Woodbine on the synthetic track. We thought even if it wasn’t a Derby prep for him per se, it would certainly put him in position for the Queen’s Plate later on. The horse has always trained very well. Both of his races for us have been very good, and we felt like it (Toyota Blue Grass) was a natural fit for him.”

SENSATIONAL SLAM – “After he won the (Fred) Caposella (Stakes in March at Aqueduct), we talked to (owner) Bobby Flay. He said he would like to take one crack at getting enough graded earnings to possibly get into the Kentucky Derby. I surveyed all the options and we felt that given his success at Woodbine on the synthetic track that timing-wise this race suited him well.”

ELITE ALEX needs 1-2 to have shot at Derby

Canadian-bred is top Queen’s Plate hopeful for June

ELITE ALEX RACING LLC’S ELITE ALEX, the Canadian-bred with a shot to go to the Kentucky Derby (perhaps along with Queen’splatekitten and/or Sensational Slam) has an inside post for the Arkansas Derby tomorrow and needs a big run to get earnings to get into the Derby field.

The Ontario bred by Afleet Alex – Catch the Moment will have blinkers on for the 9 furlong race and post time is close to 7 p.m.

Commentary: Many Aspects To Arkansas Derby

HOT SPRINGS — Horseplayers who love angles have a smorgasbord to ponder in Saturday’s $1 million Arkansas Derby.

One involves successful trainer D. Wayne Lukas’ power of persuasion. Another is for anybody who has fought a toothache on the job.

A third is deduced from the conservative nature of trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel.

Two others are old reliables — an equipment change and the new shooter in town.

Each stands on its own merit. Collectively, they suggest a much more competitive Arkansas Derby than The Factor’s rout in the Rebel at Oaklawn Park on March 19.

The trainer of four Kentucky Derby winners, Lukas sees something in Saratoga Red that cannot be found in the colt’s past performances, something he cited when he convinced his owners to ante up $6,000.

Saratoga Red began his career with a victory on Feb. 24, then jumped into the Rebel and ran fourth. Despite that skimpy resume, owners Robert Baker and William Mack put up the money to make Saratoga Red a late nominee to the Triple Crown.

BRONZE STAR, bought for $300,000 by Bear Stable, works for the Keeneland April sale last week. The 3/4 brother to EDDINGTON (Pimlico Special etc.) will be trained by Reade Baker, should be fun to see him.

Thanks to Candice Chavez for the shot.

TODAY AT KEENELAND

Canadian-bred star ‘Chairman’ has Vision of win

SOCIETY’S CHAIRMAN is 9 to 2 for the Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile today. The tough horse was recently 2nd to Little Mike in one of the best efforts of his career last time in the Canadian Turf.

Today he meets COURT VISION, who will be allowed to race despite trainer Rick Dutrow having been denied a Kentucky license.

An injunction into the ruling allows the horse to run

What about TURALLURE? He’s a son of Canadian champ Wando taking on the big boys today too:

Santa Anita’s numbers in terms of racing fatalities were looking good through the first 17 days of the 2010-11 meet. Only two horses had suffered fatal injuries, one in the morning and one during the afternoon, and Dr. Rick Arthur, the California Horse Racing Board’s equine medical director, generally was pleased with the track’s new dirt surface.

But the figures haven’t been as kind to Santa Anita the past three months, and Arthur said Thursday the numbers heading into the meet’s final week are not what he and others in the industry were hoping for.

There had been 11 racing fatalities over the main track through Sunday, including one horse that fell over a downed horse that had clipped heels.

Another seven fatalities had occurred during training hours, including one horse that died after a collision with another horse and one sudden death.

“Of course, last year they were coming off an exceptionally safe surface that really I don’t think Santa Anita’s ever seen before,” Arthur said. “I think people were hoping to get closer to that number than what they’re going to end up with.”

The 114th season at the Fort Erie Racetrack is less than a month away and many familiar faces are looking forward to getting down to business.

There is also a new face in town, who is hoping to make her mark at the historic border oval.

Janine Smith, a 22-year-old apprentice jockey who has re-located to Fort Erie from Western Canada, is eager to get into the reins and begin a successful year.

Compared to tracks she rode at in Alberta and Manitoba, Smith said she can already tell the atmosphere of the Fort Erie Racetrack is something that will make her feel comfortable and allow her to compete at a higher level at the same time.

“It’s a lot more positive and there’s a lot more opportunity here,” said Smith, meeting with the Times at the backstretch this week.

Fort Erie, April 12…As the song goes, “everybody’s talking ‘bout the new kid in town” and her name is Janine Smith a 22 year old apprentice jockey from Western Canada. In such a close knit community like the backstretch at Fort Erie Race Track it’s easy to spot a new face as the beginning of the racing season approaches. The buzz circulating about “the new girl” has been nothing but positive since Janine’s arrival on the grounds last week.

64 horses were entered for 8 races for opening day at Hastings Park on Saturday and newly turned 3yos are in the featured 7th, an allowance/optional claiming race (Claiming $75,000)

Clockers Corner Open House At Hastings Attracts All Levels Of Horse Racing Industry

April 10, 2011

2011 Thoroughbred Season Launches April 16-17

The countdown is into the single digit stage for the opening of the 2011 thoroughbred racing season at Hastings Racecourse.

And with just six days to go, a Clockers Corner Open House at Hastings on Sunday reflected the intense excitement that continues to build with the approach of opening weekend April 16-17.

A huge turnout of owners, trainers, jockeys and racing fans braved wet and cold weather conditions to share in a unique, early-morning program that included horses working out and being clocked as onlookers took notes and recorded exercise times.

Raj Mutti, Regional General Manager, BC Racing and GM at Hastings Racecourse, welcomed what he referred to as “our two biggest stakeholders: horse owners and horse players” while mapping out plans for the coming season.

Mutti reiterated that overnight purses will be increased by 19% and stakes purses by 23% in what will amount to $2.575 million over a 41-race stakes schedule. He also pointed out that Hastings recently- announced 15% takeout will be creating the best betting values found anywhere in North America.

Mutti and Mary Margaret Bentley from British Columbia Lottery Corporation addressed many new marketing and promotional initiatives that are geared to generate added interest in the local horse racing industry. They included a wide range of projects involving print and electronic media partners, social media that rates Hastings among industry leaders with its use of Facebook and Twitter, as well as the launching of an excusive Apple iPhone Ap.

Kim Inglis, past president and board member of the New Stride Thoroughbred Adoption Society, spoke to the Clockers Corner gathering about some exciting plans in store for the 2011 season with the support of Hastings Racecourse and the Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Association. New Stride ensures that non-competitive and retired thoroughbreds get a second chance in life.

Sunday’s lively Open House also featured guest interviews with 2008 leading apprentice jockey Stephanie Fedora and widely respected jockey agent Daryl Snow. The charming Miss Fedora, a media favourite, suffered torn shoulder ligaments in a 2009 racing mishap and missed the entire 2010 season during her recovery period. Stephanie said she is “feeling better than ever” and eagerly awaits the start of the new season.

Alex S

12:16 pm on April 15, 2011

2 Year olds:

Yesterday,SA carded a race for 2 year olds. All came in with bute and lasix.

Today, AQU has carded a race for 2 year olds, all scheduled to run with lasix.

The horse racing blogosphere is full of comments regarding (mostly against) the use of race day medication in North America while the rest of the world does not allow it. What is your opinion on this matter?

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